Pete Stark: “I rise in support of H.R. 3323. I remind my colleagues that the standards that we are talking about today for electronic…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 3323. I remind my colleagues that the standards that we are talking about today for electronic claims and referrals are being passed because the health care industry asked for our help. Unlike the banking industry or the securities industry and others, the health care providers could not agree amongst themselves on how to talk to each other electronically. They asked us to step in and help establish standards, and now many of the sectors of the health industry have realized the wisdom of the saying, ``Be careful what you wish for, you might get it.'' They support the goals of the administrative simplification, but they now say they underestimated the effort it will take for them to comply, and they say they need more time. I think some of the sectors, particularly hospitals, are ready to go and would like to participate in what they think might be up to $30 billion in savings. And I agree. I want these simplification plans to be adopted as soon as possible and with as little delay as we can allow them and still let them officially go ahead and put these rules into effect.”